Vintage Flying Helmets
Aviation, Military & Historical Items for Discerning Collectors
RECENT SALES
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RAF 1937 pattern webbing belt in excellent condition.
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Very nice RAF 1937 pattern webbing belt with all brass fittings, retaining much of its original blue grey blancoed finish. Large "N" to centre and maker markings visible but difficult to determine. Excellent example.
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 RAF 1937 pattern webbing belt |  RAF 1937 pattern webbing belt |
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 RAF 1937 pattern webbing belt |
RAF 1937 Pattern Frock Khaki Drill, Airmen, 1937 Pattern dated 1942.
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Very good example of this often overlooked uniform item for other ranks. The 1937 Pattern khaki drill jacket (still using the parlance of "frock" on its label) is in great condition, with all original buttons. Has no insignia, including the tropical shoulder eagles which appear to have been removed a long time ago. 1942 dated label.
A good clean jacket.
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 RAF KD service dress jacket, 1937 pattern dated 1942 |  RAF KD service dress jacket, 1937 pattern dated 1942 |
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 DSCN9789 |  DSCN9790 |
RAF Other Ranks service dress jacket dated 1945, with printed Canada shoulder titles.
Blue serge wool SD uniform "Jacket, OA") in excellent condition, showing almost no wear and no damage, with printed Canada shoulder titles. Includes matching belt (often missing) and RAF (not RCAF) buttons. Size 8 (5'7" - 5'8" height, 37" - 38" chest; 34" waist). Label dated 1945.​
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 RAF Other Ranks service dress jacket dated 1945, with printed Canada shoulder titles |  RAF Other Ranks service dress jacket dated 1945, with printed Canada shoulder titles |
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 RAF Other Ranks service dress jacket dated 1945, with printed Canada shoulder titles |  RAF Other Ranks service dress jacket dated 1945, with printed Canada shoulder titles |
 RAF Other Ranks service dress jacket dated 1945, with printed Canada shoulder titles |
RAF / WAAF officer's service dress shirt (post war).
Privately tailored blue uniform shirt of the correct blue/white cross weave and colour worn by RAF officers (and WAAF). Probably 1970s/80s era with full button opening front, attached collar and cotton/polyester mix, single pocket to front and tailor's label "Jonelle". Looks the part for re-enacting or as a filler to display under a uniform at a fraction of the cost of a wartime example. Excellent condition, collar measures as 14".​
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 RAF officer's service dress shirt (post war) |  RAF officer's service dress shirt (post war) |
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 RAF officer's service dress shirt (post war) |
RAF Type G oxygen mask, excellent condition.
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Exceptional example of this now scarce oxygen mask, issued to RAF pilots and aircrews from 1943 until the end of the war and afterwards, and also worn by USAAF fighter pilots. The grey rubber is very clean; the nosewire is intact and secure with no damage to the lugs holding it in place. There are some minor surface cracks in high stress areas, mostly around the inspiration valve on the left hand side. Elastic webbing strap retains a little elasticity. Suede lining is pristine and has been trimmed to the edge of the mask, which overall appears to have never been worn. Fitted with a good Air Ministry marked Type 48 microphone.
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 RAF Type G oxygen mask, excellent condition |  RAF Type G oxygen mask, excellent condition |
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 RAF Type G oxygen mask, excellent condition |  RAF Type G oxygen mask, excellent condition |
 RAF Type G oxygen mask, excellent condition |  RAF Type G oxygen mask, excellent condition |
WWII RAF bomb arming pin.
Of the thousands of these small split pins produced, some were taken as souvenirs but most were destroyed, discarded or recycled into more munitions! Each bomb produced had one fitted - they had t be removed to "arm" the bomb ready for use. Excellent condition, retaining metal instruction tag.
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 WWII RAF bomb arming pin |  WWII RAF bomb arming pin |
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 WWII RAF bomb arming pin |
RAF "Trench art" cigarette lighter made from 2 RAF buttons and a canon shell.
This really is a superb example of RAF "trench art" at its best. A cigarette lighter made from a brass cylinder (presumably from a spent canon shell) and two RAF uniform buttons. It functions well but needs a new flint and lighter fluid – I have not tried either – but the wheel turns as it should. Just a superb piece of craftsmanship. Fantastic personal accessory.​
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 RAF cigarette lighter made from 2 RAF buttons |  RAF cigarette lighter made from 2 RAF buttons |
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 RAF cigarette lighter made from 2 RAF buttons |  RAF cigarette lighter made from 2 RAF buttons |
 RAF cigarette lighter made from 2 RAF buttons |
Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Immersion Suit Helmet.
A very scarce helmet issued as part of the immersion/survival suit at the end of the war and immediate post-war years. It comprises a modified design Type C helmet made from unlined white leather which was originally cemented to a sealed, rubberized one-piece suit intended to prevent an airman in the sea from freezing or suffering hypothermia. The design of the suit went through several modifications and the helmets were removed (no doubt with a plan to re-attach them to later models). Eventually the helmets seem to have been issued without the bulky and unpopular suits. This example shows use but no damage, it's overall grubby but intact and complete with internal wiring loom and receivers. It has a beautiful Admiralty acceptance mark in the form of a Kings Crown over and anchor embossed on the left hand side. No doubt the helmet could be cleaned up with a little effort but even as is, it displays well. Medium size (2). Produced in limited quantities, these helmets are both scarce and very desirable.​
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 Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Immersion Suit Helmet |  Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Immersion Suit Helmet |
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 Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Immersion Suit HelmetDSCN2622 |  Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Immersion Suit Helmet |
 Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Immersion Suit Helmet |  Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Immersion Suit Helmet |
 Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Immersion Suit Helmet |  Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Immersion Suit Helmet |
RAF / WAAF Ops Room headset complete.
A rare Ops Room headset, as worn by the RAF and WAAF personnel who manned the huge charts and maps with coloured blocks indicating aerial activity during enemy air raids, watched over by senior officers — most notably during the Battle of Britain, but also throughout the Blitz and the rest of the war. These were sophisticated headsets, originally designed and made by Siemens, the German company! Set comprises a pair of metal and bakelite receivers mounted in an adjustable chrome-plated headband, wired to a chest-mounted "trumpet" microphone and terminating in a, aircraft style bell-shaped plug. Very well marked with a patent date of 1932. It shows use and some wear but is overall in excellent condition.
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 RAF / WAAF Ops Room headset complete |  RAF / WAAF Ops Room headset complete |
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 RAF / WAAF Ops Room headset complete |  RAF / WAAF Ops Room headset complete |
 RAF / WAAF Ops Room headset complete |  RAF / WAAF Ops Room headset complete |
RAF Type M2 pressure breathing oxygen mask, unissued, still packed in box in perfect condition.
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The Type M oxygen mask was the first purpose built pressure breathing mask developed for use in RAF fast/high altitude jets (the Type J being based on the body of the H mask). The first version was made from blue rubber and featured a simply hook fastening on the right hand side. The M2 was moulded in black rubber and had a more complicated spring clip mechanism for attaching to the helmet. This M2 mask is in absolutely pristine condition; removed from its box only for photographing, it still has all its padding, packing and tags attached. The mask is dated 1959 (repacked in 1961 on the box). It was the forerunner of the Type P and Q masks. A rare mask which had a very short service life.
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 RAF Type M2 pressure breathing oxygen mask unissued, still packed in box in perfect condition. |  DSCN7418 |
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 DSCN7417 |
Scully "Air Mail" luxury privately purchased commercial flying helmet, 1930s.
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One of, if not the, most luxurious privately purchased flying helmets of the interwar era, c1930. The beautiful Scully "Air Mail" helmet by Scully Bros. of Los Angeles was made from the softest glove leather and lined with butter soft suede. The helmet has elasticated gussets on each side for a snug fit, sturdy copper Gosport pipes and receivers, a rolled leather edge for comfort. Slightly dark staining on one side (looks like it might have been lying in oil at some time) but this looks worse in the pictures than real life and does not affect the feel or quality of the leather – there is no residual oiliness. Great label and large size. Lovely helmet.
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 US Airmail pilot's helmet by Scully Bros. |  US Airmail pilot's helmet by Scully Bros. |
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 US Airmail pilot's helmet by Scully Bros. |  DSCN5775 |
 DSCN5777 |  US Airmail pilot's helmet by Scully Bros. |
 DSCN5772 |